SSAC TAKES OPENER

The Grande Peace Athletic Club Ernie's Sports Experts Storm had a short lapse in the first game of an Alberta Midget Hockey League Dodge Division quarterfinal playoff in the Coca-Cola Centre on Wednesday and it cost them dearly.

Ahead 1-0 going into the second period the Storm gave up two goals in less than two minutes to the visiting Edmonton SSAC Athletics eventually falling 2-1 to the visitors.

They now have to win a game on the road to advance. That could come on Friday when the two teams battle in Game 2 in Edmonton.

The Storm, third place finishers in the Dodge Division of the AMHL, had taken a 1-0 lead at 7:07 of the first period on a goal by Connor Klassen.

And then lightning struck!

Mitchell Verenka tied it a ones at 1:32 of the second and just 1:29 later Jonathan Milligan got the game-winner.

The shots on goal were about as even as the game. Ryley Oland in the SSAC net made 30 of them as did Cam Beson in the GP cage.

Biggest difference in the game was penalties. Edmonton took just two and the Storm six.

The teams will return to the Coke Can at 4:15 p.m. on Saturday. Game 4, if needed, goes in Edmonton on Sunday and Game 5, if needed, is slated for the Coke Can on Tuesday, Feb. 26 at 5:30 p.m.